Hes1, an important gene for activation of hepatic stellate cells, is regulated by Notch1 and TGF-?/BMP signaling.
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ABSTRACT: To determine the role of Notch1 and Hes1 in regulating the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and whether Hes1 is regulated by transforming growth factor (TGF)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling.Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of desmin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and the myofibroblastic marker ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) after freshly isolated, normal rat HSCs had been activated in culture for different numbers of days (0, 1, 3, 7 and 10 d). The expression of ?-SMA, collagen1?2 (COL1?2), Notch receptors (Notch1-4), and the Notch target genes Hes1 and Hey1 were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Luciferase reporter assays and Western blot were used to study the regulation of ?-SMA, COL1?1, COL1?2 and Hes1 by NICD1, Hes1, CA-ALK3, and CA-ALK5 in HSC-T6 cells. Moreover, the effects of inhibiting Hes1 function in HSC-T6 cells using a Hes1 decoy were also investigated.The expression of Notch1 and Hes1 mRNAs was significantly down-regulated during the culture of freshly isolated HSCs. In HSC-T6 cells, Notch1 inhibited the promoter activities of ?-SMA, COL1?1 and COL1?2. On the other hand, Hes1 enhanced the promoter activities of ?-SMA and COL1?2, and this effect could be blocked by inhibiting Hes1 function with a Hes1 decoy. Furthermore, co-transfection of pcDNA3-CA-ALK3 (BMP signaling activin receptor-like kinase 3) and pcDNA3.1-NICD1 further increased the expression of Hes1 compared with transfection of either vector alone in HSC-T6 cells, while pcDNA3-CA-ALK5 (TGF-? signaling activin receptor-like kinase 5) reduced the effect of NICD1 on Hes1 expression.Selective interruption of Hes1 or maintenance of Hes1 at a reasonable level decreases the promoter activities of ?-SMA and COL1?2, and these conditions may provide an anti-fibrotic strategy against hepatic fibrosis.
SUBMITTER: Zhang K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4299340 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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